For the next few weeks, the Seattle School District will try to convince voters to approve $887 million in school bonds and levies, but Ballard schools won't get much of the pot.

Up for approval in a special election Feb. 6, a $490 million capital bond (Building Excellence III) that would pay for replacement and renovation of seven schools. It would also fund improvements to indoor air quality at Loyal Heights Elementary School, among others, as well as replacement of water piping and seismic and technology upgrades.

About 20 percent of the bond would go towards rebuilding Denny Middle School and renovating Chief Sealth High School in West Seattle. Funds are also earmarked for the renovation of Nathan Hale and Ingraham high schools, a remodel of Hamilton International Middle School, a new building for the New School at South Shore and renovation of the technology center at Rainier Beach High School.

A $397 million programs and operations levy is also on the ballot. It would replace an expiring, three-year levy voters approved in 2004 that provides funding for teachers, librarians, counselors and full-day kindergarten, among other services.

The levy makes up about 23 percent of the district's general budget and helps fill the gap for basic education needs not fully funded by the state.

Both measures require 60 percent of voter approval to pass. At least 40 percent of the total number of voters who cast a ballot in the November 2006 election must vote this February to validate the vote.

If either fails, the measures can be resubmitted to voters only once per calendar year.

Voters have approved operations levies every three years for the past three decades with one exception.

In 1976, an operations levy failed the vote twice. As a result, there were massive teacher layoffs and arts and music programs were cut drastically, said Marjorie Skotheim of Schoolsfirst!, a campaign organization that works to pass Seattle school levies.

"The result's were catastrophic," said Skotheim. "It was absolutely disastrous for this school district."

Several capitol measures didn't pass in the late 1980s and early 1990s either. Skotheim admits she's a little nervous this time around.

Will voters be willing to support the district amidst the search for a new superintendent, five School Board members facing possible recall, declining enrollment, a looming budget shortfall and widespread dissatisfaction with the school closure and consolidation process?

Education activist and parent Melissa Westbrook said she plans to vote 'no' on the capitol measure because the current list of schools is "unfair and inequitable."

"I would feel relief if it failed... because I think it's the wrong list," said Westbrook, who served on the district's community advisory committee on school consolidations and closures this past spring. "I think there may be cause for concern."

Westbrook said she's troubled that alternative and elementary schools have been primarily left off the capitol list. She was also discouraged to see none of the schools that would receive students as a result of the school closures were up for major renovations.

"This would have sent a powerful message to parents in both communities as well to the public at large that the district was serious in its closure and consolidation goal to improve academics for all students," said Westbrook.

Community activist Kate Martin thinks there's a good chance voters won't approve the construction bond.

"I wouldn't be surprised if people didn't pass it," Martin said, a member of the Greenwood Community Council. "There's a huge undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the types of projects that are on the (capitol) list."

Martin said the district seems to be bending to special interest groups by allocating $67 million to rebuild the New School at South Shore, which was started and is partly funded by an outside foundation. Meanwhile, other schools are in much worse shape and have waited longer for help from the district, she said.

"There's no justice in the way schools get listed on those programs," said Martin, whose son attends Hamilton International Middle School. "There's no objectivity."

But Martin supports the operations levy and hopes voters will recognize the difference between the two measures come election day.

"We need to keep the school's running--there's no question about that," she said. "We can't shut down the district but people should question the equity associated with how you get on those (capitol) lists. There should be no political swing that takes hold of these things."

The Committee to Stop All School Closures recently filed petitions with King County officials to begin gathering signatures to force a recall vote for five School Board members this fall.

The group wants to remove directors Cheryl Chow, Brita Butler-Wall, Darlene Flynn, Michael DeBell and Irene Stewart for "acts of malfeasance, misfeasance or violation of the oath of office." Those board members voted last summer to close seven school buildings by this fall.

Martin supports the recall effort.

"I think it's time to smoke them out," said Martin. "I think it's become really clear the School Board members are basically puppets for special interest groups."

A few hundred people, including Mayor Greg Nickels, showed their support for the measures at a campaign kickoff sponsored by Schoolsfirst! on Jan. 7. Nickels, who has been openly critical of the district recently, encouraged voters not to let uncertain feelings about district leadership effect their actions at the polls next month.

In November, Nickels suggested former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice take over the district after superintendent Raj Manhas announced he would leave his post this August. City Hall has also been pushing for ditching an elected School Board for an appointed one.

But the mayor called himself an "enthusiastic supporter of the campaign" and urged people to spread the word about the upcoming election.

"We're all going to have our debates about how we are doing day-to day, we are all going to have our debates about closing schools...," Nickels said, "And we are very passionate about that because we are very passionate about the kids who stand in front of us."

Previous capitol levies have paid for renovations or improvements to Ballard High School, Whitman Middle School, Salmon Bay K-8 and Whittier Elementary among others.